Which place is cheaper, Yakushima or Koh Phi Phi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Koh Phi Phi or Yakushima?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Koh Phi Phi or Yakushima? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Koh Phi Phi or Yakushima?
Koh Phi Phi
The islands of Koh Phi Phi, off the coast of southwestern Thailand, are very popular with travelers because of their unrivaled tropical scenery, clear blue waters, relaxing atmosphere, and undersea attractions. However, in the last decade, Koh Phi Phi has seen a huge surge in tourism, adding to the crowds and pollution of the main (and only populated) island, known as Koh Phi Phi Don.
Yakushima
Yakushima, Japan is a UNESCO World Heritage island located north of Okinawa and off the south east of of Kyushu. The island is well-known to Japanese tourists but not so much to international ones, making it a bit of a hidden gem to international tourists. This also means that English isn't spoken as much as in larger cities, so make sure to brush up on your Japanese and bring a dictionary.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Thailand, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Thailand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Japan, and The Best Luxury Tours to Japan.
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Koh Phi Phi Prices
Thailand PricesYakushima Prices
Japan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Phi Phi $95Yakushima $141
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Phi Phi is $95, while the average daily cost in Yakushima is $141. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Koh Phi Phi and Yakushima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Phi Phi $50Yakushima $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Phi Phi $100Yakushima $122
Compare Hotels in Koh Phi Phi and Yakushima
Looking for a hotel in Koh Phi Phi or Yakushima? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Koh Phi Phi Hotel Prices and Yakushima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Phi Phi $7.93Yakushima $51
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Phi Phi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Phi Phi:
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Ferry to Maya Beach (for 2)$17
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Longboat Taxi$3.14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Phi Phi
Also for Koh Phi Phi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Speedboat Transfer Phi Phi Tonsai to Phuket with Dropoff Service: $29
- Easy Island Transfer from Phi Phi Island to Koh Tao: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Phi Phi or Yakushima?
Prices for flights to both Yakushima and Koh Phi Phi change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayKoh Phi Phi $23Yakushima $50
Typical Food Prices in Koh Phi Phi
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Phi Phi:
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Crepe$1.88
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Sit Down Lunch$11
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Casual Lunch$6.59
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Coconut Donut$0.31
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Lunch at Mexican Restaurant (for 2)$13
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Sit Down Dinner$16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Koh Phi Phi
For Koh Phi Phi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- International Dinner & Cabaret Show - Ala Carte Package: $22
- International Dinner & Cabaret Show - Set Menu Package: $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Phi Phi $52Yakushima $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Phi Phi
For Koh Phi Phi, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Kayak Rental$9.42
Tours and Activities in Koh Phi Phi
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Phi Phi.
- Ferry from Phi Phi Islands to Phuket with Dropoff Service by Royal Jet Cruiser: $15
- Phi Phi Island Half Day Tour From Phi Phi by Longtail Boat: $18
- Phi Phi Sunset Longtail Boat Cruise to Maya Bay and Snorkeling: $18
- Phuket Trick Eye Museum Admission Ticket: $19
- Phi Phi Island To Phuket By Phi Phi Cruiser: $19
- Half-Day Phi Phi Island Longtail Boat Tour with Maya Bay Visit: $19
- Koh Phi Phi to Phuket by Phi Phi Cruiser: $19
- Snorkeling Phi Phi Islands Tour From Phi Phi by Longtail Boat: $20
- Phuket Trick Eye Museum Admission Ticket (SHA Plus): $22
- Trick Eye Museum at Phuket Admission Ticket: $24
- Half-Day Morning Bamboo Island Tour from Phi Phi by Longtail Boat: $25
- Phi Phi Islands Sunset Tour From Phi Phi by Longtail Boat: $25
Tours and Activities in Yakushima
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Yakushima are as follows:
- Private Guided Tour: $336
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Phi Phi $6.51Yakushima $6.61
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Phi Phi
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Koh Phi Phi from other travelers:
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Mojito Bucket$16
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Banana Daiquiri$6.28
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Phi Phi and Yakushima, we can see that Yakushima is more expensive. And not only is Koh Phi Phi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Koh Phi Phi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Phi Phi and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Yakushima would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Yakushima than you might in Koh Phi Phi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Koh Phi Phi Expensive? and Is Yakushima Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Koh Phi Phi or Yakushima?
Yakushima has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Phi Phi experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Koh Phi Phi or Yakushima in the Summer?
Both Yakushima and Koh Phi Phi during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Phi Phi because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Koh Phi Phi is around the same temperature as Yakushima in the summer. The daily temperature in Koh Phi Phi averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Yakushima fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
Yakushima gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Phi Phi. Koh Phi Phi usually gets more rain in July than Yakushima. Koh Phi Phi gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 189 mm (7.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Phi Phi 28°C (82°F)Yakushima 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Koh Phi Phi or Yakushima in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Phi Phi and Yakushima. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Phi Phi year-round.
In the autumn, Koh Phi Phi is a little warmer than Yakushima. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koh Phi Phi in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Yakushima averages at about 22°C (71°F).
Yakushima receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koh Phi Phi gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Koh Phi Phi usually receives more rain than Yakushima. Koh Phi Phi gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn. December to March in Koh Phi Phi is the dry season. Also, May to November is the rainy season in Koh Phi Phi.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKoh Phi Phi 27°C (81°F)Yakushima 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Koh Phi Phi or Yakushima in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Koh Phi Phi as well as Yakushima. Koh Phi Phi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Koh Phi Phi is generally much warmer than Yakushima. Daily temperatures in Koh Phi Phi average around 28°C (82°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
It's quite rainy in Yakushima. Koh Phi Phi usually gets less rain in January than Yakushima. Koh Phi Phi gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to March in Koh Phi Phi is the dry season.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKoh Phi Phi 28°C (82°F)Yakushima 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Koh Phi Phi or Yakushima in the Spring?
Both Yakushima and Koh Phi Phi are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Phi Phi throughout the year.
Koh Phi Phi is much warmer than Yakushima in the spring. The daily temperature in Koh Phi Phi averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Yakushima fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Yakushima. It's quite rainy in Koh Phi Phi. In April, Koh Phi Phi usually receives less rain than Yakushima. Koh Phi Phi gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 207 mm (8.1 in) of rain each month for the spring. The rainy season in Koh Phi Phi is May to November.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Phi Phi 29°C (84°F)Yakushima 18°C (64°F)
Typical Weather for Yakushima and Koh Phi Phi
| Koh Phi Phi | Yakushima | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 106 mm (4.2 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 318 mm (12.5 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 288 mm (11.3 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 279 mm (11 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 352 mm (13.9 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 399 mm (15.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 253 mm (10 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 304 mm (12 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 161 mm (6.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.